Top roll



Pl'l 29, 1952 w. c. WRIGHT 2,595,041

TOP ROLL Filed July 27, 1950 40 .eusssanusuaxgug l danrlzummzlum@ 6 53 5gg/50 506' TM/ //////////?MM /j 4/ l45 4a 44 45 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 29, 1952 STATES PATENT OFFICE Tor ROLL William C. Wright, Hickory, N. C.A

Application July 27, 1950, Serial No. 176,141

This invention relates to textile machinery of the type which employs drafting or drawing rolls and more especially to top rollers used with such machinery.

Many attempts have been made to provide satisfactory top rolls for spinning frames and the like and none of the top rolls heretofore in use have proven satisfactory since it has been relatively dilicult to remove any accumulation of yarns from the cots of the top rolls which may be lwrapped therearound. Also, as is well known, the central portions of most top rolls are xedly engaged by a weighted member or saddle and, upon continuous rotation of the top rolls over periods of relatively long durations, the friction between the weighted member and the top rolls results in grooves or ridges being worn in the central portion of the top roll. This would retard rotation of the top rolls.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a top roll assembly comprising a shaft on which a pair of spaced rolls are ixedly mounted, the remote ends of the two rolls being spaced apart from the adjacent ends of the shaft and the space between the spaced rolls being provided with a sleeve or roller neck which is rotatably mounted on the medial portion of the shaft thus permitting the shaft to rotate relative to the sleeve and the rolls to rotate with the shaft.

It is another object of this invention to provide a top roll of the type described wherein a pair of anti-friction or ball bearings are provided within opposed ends of the centrally disposed sleeve or roller neck, the inner races of the bearings being fixed on the shaft, as by a pressed t, and the outer races thereof'being fixed in the opposed ends of the sleeve to thus permit the shaft to rotate freely wihin the sleeve and thus permitting the rolls on opposed end portions of the shaft to rotate freely with the shaft and independently of the sleeve, the'sleeve or roller neck being adapted to support the usual weight member or saddle associated with the top rolls for urging the top rolls into engagement with the corresponding bottom rolls.

SomeV of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure lis ayertical-sectional view through a s et ofu top and bottom rolls of a spinning frame or ther like vand showing the same in association Withthe usual` weight member or saddle and one of the'roll stands;

' Figure 2 is 'a top' plan view of the improved top 2 Claims. (C1. 19-142) 2 roll showing the same in association with fragmentary portions of the bearings for supporting the top roll and the saddle;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical-sectional view through the top roll shown in Figure 2 and showing the manner in which the saddle engages y Anumeral I0 indicates a roll stand board, only a portion of which is shown in cross-section in Figure 1, on which a plurality of roll stands II are mounted, there being only one of these roll stands shown in Figure l. The roll stands I I have suitable bearing portions therein in which are mounted front, middle and back bottom corrugated rolls I2, I3 and i4, respectively. The roll stands II are usually spaced a substantial distance apart from each other and have xedly secured therebetween a conventional rod I5 on which are pivotally mounted a plurality of top roll supporting members, only two of which are shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 indicated at I'I. Only fragmentary portions of the top roll supporting members il are shown in Figure 2 and these are provided with suitable cavities 2G on opposed sides thereof in which the ends of arbors of top rolls, to be presently described, are mounted for rotation.

Referring to Figure 1, there will be observed.

three top rolls, a middle top roll 2|, a front top roll 2 Ia and a rear top roll 2 Ib, all of which may be identical and which coincide with the respective bottom rolls I3, I2 and I4. Since the top rolls 2I, 2Ia and 2Ib may all be identical, only the middle top roll 2I is shown in detail in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive.

Each of the top rolls is urged into engagement with the coinciding bottom rolls, in this instance, by means of a first saddle 23 and a second' saddle 24, the saddle 23 engaging the roller necks, to be presently described, of the middle and back top rolls 2l and 2 Ib and the second saddle 24 engaging the upper surface of an identical roller neck of the front roll`2Ia. The rolls 2|, 2Ia and 2lb are provided to hold a sliver S downwardly in contact with the upper surfaces of the respective bottom rolls, I3, I2 and I4 as the sliver or slivers S travel from between the back rolls 2lb and I4 to the front rolls I2 and 2 Ia. The first saddle 23A is slotted, said slot being defined by the dotted lines and 26 in Figure 1, and this slot is loosely penetrated by a link member 21 which projects upwardly and curves forwardly and is pivotally connected, as at 30, to the front or second saddle 24.

The linkmember 21 extends downwardly from the saddles 23 and 24,'between the back and middle top and bottom rolls and its lower end is slidably penetrated by a weight lever 32 having a top hook portion disposed Within an eye bolt 34 threadably secured in the roll stand board IU. The weight lever 32 extends rearwardly from the lower end of the link 21 and has a suitable Weight 35 on the rear end thereof for applying Apressure to the saddles 23 and 24 and to the top rolls 2|, 2Ia and 2lb to press the same toward the respective bottom rolls I3, I2 and I4.

Improved Atop roll Referring to Figures A2, 3, 4 and 5, the improved top roll 2| is shown in detail and it will -por-tmernber II and the saddles 23 and 24 which are fshown schematically.

The improved itoproll comprises an arbor or shaft 4.0, :opposed ends of which are adapted to have rotational movement in the corresponding notches 20 of .the top yroll Ysupport members I'I and on theopposed end portions of which spaced bosses 4I and 42 are fixedly secured, as by headless set screws 43. Both of the bosses 4I and 42 are `identical and .of tubular construction and the `headless set screws 43 are tightened against the .arbor lor.shaft '40 so as to tightly secure the bosses 4.I .and -42 :thereon against relative movement with the .shaft and so that the outer ends of the setscrews 43 will not extend beyond 4the outer peripheryof Athe corresponding bosses 4| .and .42. .'l'hese 'bosses 4I and 42 are spaced substantially apart from eachother and a roller neck 44 Ihaving enlarged end portions 45 and 46, is disposed :between the proximate ends of the bosses 4I vand 42. .The enlarged end portions 45 and -46 denne a ,peripheral groove 48 extending around .the .centerof the roller neck and adapted to receive the ,saddles yor any suitable `weight member.

The roller neck .44 vmay be rotatably mounted on Ythe 'medial portion of the varbor 40 and may slidably and rotatably engage the proximate surfaces of the ibosses4I and 42 if desired. However, iit is'preferred `that the opposed ends of the roller ,neck 44 .each be recessed, as at 41, and for reception of the outer race 50a of a ball or anti-friction bearing 50, .and the outer vrace 50a of the ball .bearing 50 :preferably being secured in the vrecessed ends 4'I of the roller neck 44 as by a pressed fit, andthe inner race 50h of the ball bearing 50 being secured to the arbor 40 as by a pressed fit. The inner race 50h and the arbor 40 rotate while `the roller neck 44 and outer race 50a remain stationary.

In order to insure that the proximate ends of the bosses-4I and 42 .do not engage the remote or opposed ends of the roller neck 44, but to insure that they will Abe positioned in closely spaced relation to the opposed ends of the roller neck 44, the inner or proximate ends of each of the bosses 4I and 42 vhave an annular recess 52 therein and the depth of the 'recesses `4'I in the proximate ends of the -roller neck 44 is such that the outer 4 race 50a of each ball bearing 50 will extend slightly beyond the respective outer end of the roller neck 44 and this portion of the outer race 50a of the ball bearing 50 which is not conned in the recess 41 projects into the annular recess 52 in the proximate end of the corresponding boss 4I or 42. The annular recess 52 denes an inner annular projection 53 which is adapted to engage the outer edge of the inner vrace 50h of the ball bearing 50 and, since the innerzrace 50h of the ball bearing 50 is preferably pressed onto the shaft or arbor 40 and the corresponding boss v4I or 42 turns in fixed relation to the shaft or arbor 40, it is thus seen that the inner race 50h of the ball bearing 5D and the annular projection 53 will be in fixed relation to each other and will permit relative movement between the roller neck 44 and the corresponding bosses 4I and 42 and the inner race 5B1) of the ball bearing 50 will prevent the bosses 4I and 42 from sliding on the shaft 40 -to where their inner ends will engage the .proximate endsof the roller neck44.-r

It is thus seen that the roller neck 44 may support the corresponding saddles 23 and 24-or any suitable weight member and may, in turn, through the medium of the anti-friction bearing 50, transmit the weight to the bosses 4'I and 42 to urge the same .toward the bottom rolls.

After the roller neck 44, the ball or anti-friction bearing 50 and the bosses 4I and `42 are successively or progressively .mounted on the arbor 40 so that the opposed ends of the arbor 49extend beyond the remote ends of the bosses 4I Vand 42, suitable cots 54 and ,55 may be adhesively or otherwise secured on the respective bosses 4I 'and 42. These cots 54 and 55 may be of any desired material such as rubber, leather, fabric and the like, and it is preferred that the peripheral surfaces of the bosses 4I and 42 be roughened or grooved to insure that `the corresponding respective cots 54 and 55may beiixedly secured ,on'the respective bosses 4l and .42.

Since it is onlynecessary that a few thousandth of an inch clearance be provided Vbetween fthe outer ends of the l:roller neck 44 and the inner or proximate ends of the bosses 4I and 42, itis .thus seen that it will be impossible for any vlint or other foreign .matter to accumulate Atherebetween and interfere with the function .of the anti-friction bearings 50. It is preferred that these anti-friction 'bearings be of the type having seals 56 on opposed sides thereof to obviate the necessity of lubricating these bearings.

An important feature of this ,type of top roll is that it may easily be .employed in lieu of other types of rolls `on roving frames, spinning iframes, twisters and the like,since this type of :structure is such that vthe :exterior .dimensions .ofthe various parts of the ztoproll Amay ,'besubstantially the sameas those which may have been replaced thereby. It is well Vknown .by 4those familiar with the art that the ksliver `S will, at times, become severed `or broken as it passes betweencthe top and bottom rolls vthus resulting in the end of the sliver S being wound about the adjacent top roll and, also, .in many instances, the vfibers in the sliver may become separated andsomeof the fibers will wind around the adjacent top roll `and this requires that the top roll be removed from the machine and ,grasped by an operator `as the accumulation of wlint or bers `thereon .are .twisted off the cot. In other 'types of rolls wherein .the roller neck has been an integral part Aof rth'ezarbor and the bosses have been rotatablyimonnted on the arbor, it has been ldiilicult to prevent rotation of one of the bosses relative to the other while' removing the accumulation of lint and fibers therefrom and this is overcome by the present invention.

It is evident that, in removing the accumulations of bers from the present top roll by grasping either of the bosses 4l 4or t2 or the cots thereon, this will prevent rotation of the other of the bosses and will thus simplify the operation of removing the accumulation of fibers from the other of the cots resulting in a saving in the time required to do so.

It is thus seen that I have provided an improved top roll for drafting machines comprising an arbor having a pair of bosses affixed thereon and a roller neck rotatably mounted thereon between the bosses and which will permit the bosses and the arbor to rotate while the roller neck remains stationary thus avoiding wear on the roller neck of the top roll which has heretofore been the result of saddles or Weight members resting thereon and also permitting the rolls to rotate freely without the resistance which has heretofore been caused by the weight means usually associated with drafting machines. This 4,.

will result in a more efficient drafting operation than has heretofore been possible and will also lengthen the life of the top roll considerably above that of top rolls heretofore in use.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although sepecific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. An improved top roll for fiber processing machines such as spinning frames, roving frames, twisters and the like, comprising an arbor, a pair of axially spaced bosses fixedly mounted on said arbor, a roller neck disposed between said bcsses and encircling said arbor, opposed ends of the roller neck having an annular recess therein, a pair of anti-friction bearings having inner and outer races, the outer races of said bearings being secured in said annular recesses in opposed ends of the roller neck and the inner races being secured to said arbor, each of the bosses having an annular projection on its end adjacent the roller neck, said annular projection being adapted to engage the outer edge of the corresponding inner race of the anti-friction bearing to thus insure that the proximate ends of the axially spaced bosses will be disposed in closely spaced relation to the adjacent ends of the roller neck and whereby the bosses and the arbor may rotate freely relative to the roller neck and vice versa.

2. yAn improved top roll for fiber processing machines such as spinning frames, roving frames, twisters and the like, comprising an arbor, a pair of spaced bosses iXedly mounted on said arbor, a roller neck disposed between said bosses and encircling said arbor, opposedends of the roller neck having a recess therein, a pair of anti-friction bearings having inner and outer races, the outer races of said bearings being secured in said recesses in opposed ends of the roller neck and the inner races being secured to said arbor, each of the bosses having an annular groove on its end adjacent the roller neck adapted to receive a portion of the outer race of said bearing, said annular groove defining an annular projection, said annular projection being adapted to engage the outer edge of the corresponding inner race of the anti-friction bearing to thus cause the proximate ends of the axially spaced bosses to be disposed in closely spaced relation to the adjacent ends of the roller neck and whereby the bosses and the arbor may rotate freely relative to the roller neck and vice versa.

WILLIAM C. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the 

